Fire alarm and call device



I April 29, 1958 A. w. PlVETZ 2,332,949

FIRE ALARM AND CALL DEVICE Filed June 27, 1955 I INVENTOR. 5654 .57 51 P/VITZ 2,832,949 FIRE ALARM AND CALL DEVICE Albert W. Pivetz, Buffalo, N. Y., assignor to Carl Miller, New York, N. Y.

Application June 27, 1955, Serial No. 517,987

1 Claim. (Cl. 340-227) a combination thermometer and fire alarm device of the above type which includes an adjustable silver alloy tip contact screw which adds to the practical operation of the device and which is adapted to close an electrical circuit containing a bell or buzzer upon contact with a bi-metallic element mounted at the bottom of the device, which latter is exposed to the atmosphere and surrounding air.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a combination thermometer and fire alarm device having the above objects in mind which is of simple construction, has a minimum number of parts, is inexpensive to manufacture and efiicient and efiective in use.

For other objects and a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of a preferred embodi merit of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view thereof taken along the line 2--2 of Fig. 1 and showing the cover in the open position;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary bottom perspective view of the device showing the bi-metallic element.

Referring now more in detail to the drawing, a rectangular casing is provided and includes the back wall 10, a top wall 11, side walls 12 and 13 and a bottomwall 14. A front wall 15 is connected to the side wall 13 by the hinges 16 and is adapted to be retained in the closed position by means of the pivotally mounted hook 20 suitably secured to the top wall 11, permitting the device to be mounted upon a hook or a nail in a releasable manner. The top wall 11 is provided with a pair of vent openings 21 while the side wall 12 is provided with the vent openings 22, the side wall 13 being provided with the vent openings 24. The bottom wall 14 is provided with a rectangular opening 25 for a purpose which will hereinafter become clear.

A thermometer indicated generally at 26 is mounted within a suitable opening provided in the front wall 15.

A bell or buzzer indicated generally at 27 and including a sounder 28 and gong 29 is suitably mounted on either face of the rear wall 10.

A wooden post 30 is mounted on the bottomwall 14 by means of the screw 31, a bi-metallic element 32 being mounted intermediate the post 30 and bottom wall 14 of the screw 31 and extending across the opening 25.

The post 30 is also secured to the back wall 10 by means of screws or glue, not shown. A conductor strip 33 is secured across the top of the post 30 by the screw 34 and serves to retain the storage-or flashlight batteries 35 and 36 in position, as shown in Fig. 2. One terminal of the hell or buzzer 27 is connected to the contact strip 33 by the conductor 37.

As shown in Fig. 3, an L-shaped conductor bracket 38 is secured to the rear wall 10 by the countersunk screw 39 receiving thereon the nuts 40 and 41. The other terminal of the bell or buzzer 27 is connected to the conductor bracket. 38 by means of the conductor 42 which is received intermediate the nuts 40 and 41. A nut 43 is secured to the upper surface of the bracket 38 and receives downwardly therethrough an adjustable silver alloy screw 44 which is adapted to contact the bi-metallic element 32 upon the contraction of the latter under rising temperature conditions.

In operation, the device will be hung in the room to be protected, in a hallway, or more distant point of a small dwelling, and upon fire raising the temperature of the surrounding air, the air will pass upwardly through the cutout 25 and cause the bi-metallic element 32 to move upwardly and into contact with the silver alloy adjustable screw 44, which closes the circuit of the batteries 35, 36 and bell or buzzer 27 and sounding the alarm. The openings 21, 22 and 24 will permit the sound to emanate outwardly from the box.

A quick test is easily accomplished by holding a lighted match under the opening 25. It will be noted that the device is simple and economical and at the same time provides an attractive and useful wall ornament.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claim.

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of my invention, what is claimed is:

An article of the class described comprising a -casing,. electrical bell alarm means mounted within said casing, battery means mounted within said casing connected in series with said electrical bell alarm means, and a bimetallic element connected in the circuit of said bell and battery means adapted to close the circuit, said casing at the bottom thereof having an opening to permit the passage of heated air upwardly therethrough and into contact with said bi-metallic element, said opening being disposed immediately adjacent to said bi-metallic element to expose said element for selective and automatic movement into circuit closing engagement, said electrical alarm means comprising a bell having a sounder and a gong, said battery means comprising a pair of flashlight batteries, one terminal of said bell being connected to the terminal of said batteries, an L-shaped conductor bracket secured within said casing and extending outwardly above in direct overlying relationship with the free end of said bi-metallic element, the other terminal of said bell being connected to said bracket, and an adjustable screw threaded downwardly through said bracket and having a silver alloy tip, said tip being adapt ed to contact said bi-metallic element on upwardly movement of the latter under raised temperature conditions, said casing including a back wall, a bottom wall, a top wall and side walls, said top and side walls having vent openings therethrough to disseminate the sound, said bottom wall having elongated opening across which extends said bi-metallic element, automatic operation of said alarm being effected by means of upward movement of said bi-metallic element in response. to increasing ambient temperatures of air passing through said opening, and

selective operation of said' alarm being effected by exerting a manualupwardpressum on -said bi-metallic element through said opening.

' References Cited in-the file of this pa tenb UNITED STATES. PATENTS '7 Grcaves Apr. 12; 1927 Alexander Feb. 4, 1936 'Sasser May 3, 1949 White June 7, 1949 Shaw July 11, 1950 Cufalo May 1, 1951 Nuccio Sept. 16, 1952 Valenti Apr. 24, 1956 

